1/31/08

We had a great weekend at the Outer Banks. It was COLD!!! But we were inside anyway so that really didn't matter. We were fairly productive, sometimes we aren't.

I finished my Ribbi Cardi. The blue is Mission Falls, the green is Ellen Cooper. Love both yarns. We will see how the turtleneck does with the mohair in it once I wear it.






I finished my Panda Scarf. It is SO CUTE. It is a kit from Morehouse Farms. It is a quick, fun knit. I was asked who I was knitting it for. I have but one answer, ME!!!

This is one of the bird blocks from Expressions of Morris. It still needs a little bit of embroidery, but is substantially finished. I appliqued most of the weekend. It was fun for a change. This is block 3 of this quilt finished.

This is Tulip Treat from Nature's Chorus. This quilt has been in the works for at least 6 years. Maybe I will finish it one day!!! I think this is block 21 of 49. Of course there is a border, too.

Not much on the reading or exercise front. But I did lose 2 lbs over the weekend, not sure how unless it was shivering!!!! ;-)

I was BAD on the yarn and fabric purchase front!!! TWO, not ONE background (at 10 yards a piece) for Ladies of the Sea, plus yarn for another sweater, and another pair of socks, plus some more patterns and shawl pins. I did need the shawl pins though. And they aren't fiber!!

Of course, we have to have the cute puppy picture. I called the dogs to give them a bath. They had been needing it but it had been so cold I didn't want to. So we had a warm day, so I tortured them. The two boys jumped in the tub. I had to go get the girl. I washed both boys at the same time. It worked fine until they were ready to get out. I dried one of them slightly, the other one took off like a shot, DRIPPING WET!!! What a mess. But at least they are all clean.

Chat later

Susan

1/23/08

Two days late posting isn't bad!! I have been trying to post on Monday's, but Husband-unit was home on Monday, so that messed up the schedule. I took all three dogs to the vet on Monday, so they were all sick yesterday. We did a lot of snuggle time. Thought that was more important than blogging.

As you can see, Autumn Rose if finished. It is a little big, but not so much so that it is a problem. If I was going to reknit it, I would make it a size smaller.




I finished it while watching Bleak House on DVD. It is from the BBC, based on a Charles Dickens book. I enjoyed it a lot. It started a little slow, but ends up very good. Besides it gave me almost 8 hours of knitting time!!! How bad can it be?

We got a little snow but not enough to really count. I want a really good snow. One where all the adult neighbors go out to play in it.

I have also joined The Quilt Show online. The shows are good. I sit at my computer, watch the show and knit something mindless. So I am learning and knitting. Again, how bad can it be.

I leave for Nags Head in the morning. We are doing a quilting/knitting weekend down there. Hope to get the background for my Ladies of the Sea quilt while I am down there.

I finally finished Glenn Beck's book. It was funny and scary. He really knows how to say things so they get your attention. Even if you don't agree with his politics, he makes a lot of good points. I started Murder in the Heartland last night. Haven't read enough to know how it is yet.

Have also started playing with my geneology. This is fun but another time gobbler!!!

I got a Woolee Winder for my spinning wheel. Now I have to spin and quit putting it off!!!



Somebody please walk by so I can bark at you!!!

Chat later
Susan

1/14/08

Autumn Rose isn't looking like much yet. I think every night I will finish the knitting and can move on to the finishing. BUT, I just keep knitting!!! Sometimes it makes my head want to explode. Then I think about all the ends I have to weave in!!!! ;-( But it will be gorgeous once it is finished.

I have been without a vehicle since last Tuesday night. It has been wonderful. I have gotten so many things done that I wouldn't have done if I had wheels. I told husband unit I wanted him to take the truck away from me one week a month, just so I can get some stuff done. I never seem to get anything done!!!

I have even exercised five days in a row!!! See, not having wheels is a good thing!!!

I finally joined the QuiltShow online. Alex Anderson and Ricky Timms online show. It is good. They are about 1 hour each. There are 13 shows in each series. I bought series one and two. I have watched the first 4 of series one. I sit at the computer and knit. I am practicing knitting without looking!!! So I am multi-tasking. Learning about quilting while practicing knitting. Now if I could figure out how to read at the same time!!! Also, the QuiltShow has a new BOM starting this month. It is free if you are a member. It is designed by Sue Garman who does a lot of the Quakertown Quilts.

Fiber purchases have been pretty good this week. I ordered one skein of yarn I need to finish a fair isle sweater. Since I had the rest, I defined this as a NEED, not a want!!! I ordered the Christmas Memories quilt pattern, but that isn't fiber!!! The bad purchase was the new Panda scarf from Morehouse Farms. It was just TOO CUTE to pass up.

On the reading front, I am still on the same book. I really do need to go to the beach so I can read!!



I have to finish with one dirty dog picture. Look at the leaf parts all in his face hair. He just can't stand to be clean!!!

Chat later
Susan

1/7/08

Well today is the first day of my hard core, get back to REGULAR exercise instead of this hit or miss mode I have been in. Of course, am I walking or running??? NO, I am blogging!!! ;-) I have got to quit procrastinating and get with it.

Had a great Birthday dinner with my family. Thanks everyone who sent their best wishes.

I got five more blocks made for Dear Jane yesterday. That gets me to 85 of the 169 blocks, so I am officially over half done on the center blocks, not the border, but a whole 1/2 block!!! They really are fun to work on. Most of them you can do in way less than an hour. Some seem to take forever. Didn't this lady know what a pain inset seams are?!?!

Prepped 6 applique blocks for Nature's Chorus, so now I just have to work on them. No progress on the William Morris quilt.

I have the body and one sleeve done up to the join on Autumn Rose. I really want to get that done to wear at the quilting retreat the end of the month, but it is one of those projects you can only work on so long at a time.

Got the Doctor Bag blocked, now I just have to put it together. It is from the book Knit 2 Together. I read the "put together" instructions yesterday. I think we may do this "my way" intead of "their way" What a pain those instructions are!!!

I am test knitting Annie Modesitt's upcoming pattern, ASSUMING I can find some yarn in my stash to do it with. I am going to try to be good with this no buying thing this year. The stash is really ridiculous. This requires a worsted and sport weight that work together. This will be fun once I figure out this yarn thing.

Fiber Cut-Back Report
No fiber purchases this week. That means I am earning dollars to spend, but not spending (see 12/31/07 post).

Reading Glenn Beck's book An Inconvenient Book. Whether you agree with him or not, it is funny. He deals with the issues of the world and how he would fix them. Everything from marriage to global warming!! My first book of the year. I want to read more this year.

If someone figures out how to get more time in a day, week, month, please let me know. I want to quilt more, knit more, read more, and exercise more in 2008. Where do I think this time is coming from???

Well off to exercise!! I have procrastinated as long as I can
Chat later
Susan

1/4/08

Just a quick update to say....

HAPPY B'DAY TO ME!!!

Chat later
Susan